| ICC Males’s World Cup 2023, Ahmedabad: |
| England 282-9 (50 overs): Root 77 (86), Buttler 43 (42); Henry 3-48 |
| New Zealand 283-1 (36.2 overs): Conway 152* (121), Ravindra 123* (96) |
| New Zealand received by 9 wickets |
| Scorecard. Group table. |
England’s defence of their World Cup title started with a nine-wicket hammering by the hands of New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
The rematch of the ultimate 4 years in the past provided not one of the pressure of that Lord’s epic with the Black Caps cantering residence in pursuit of 283.
They reached their goal with 13.4 overs to spare – Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra each hitting gorgeous centuries.
Conway ended 152 not out and Ravindra unbeaten on 123 because the pair mixed for a sensational 273-run partnership – the fourth-highest in males’s World Cup historical past – which rendered England’s assault toothless.
In distinction, England struggled to 282-9 in a lacklustre batting efficiency. Joe Root made 77 however a sequence of soppy dismissals checked their progress.
They’ve to attend till Tuesday for his or her subsequent match – a gathering with Bangladesh in Dharamshala.
The event continues with Pakistan dealing with Netherlands in Hyderabad from 09:30 BST on Friday.
England put to the sword
All isn’t misplaced for Jos Buttler’s facet.
This event follows the identical format because the final 50-over World Cup, the place they misplaced thrice within the 10-team round-robin stage earlier than happening to elevate the trophy.
However the best way the defeat turned more and more ugly, plus the web run-rate implications, make it a really worrying begin.
At midway their whole regarded 30 runs beneath par. Conway and Ravindra’s efficiency made it look extra like 100.
Sam Curran had Will Younger caught behind down the leg facet for a duck to begin the second over of the chase however that was pretty much as good because it acquired for England.
A missed likelihood to expire Conway within the third over the closest they got here to a different wicket.
Conway latched onto something brief or full – the spotlight an excellent straight drive off Mark Wooden, whose 5 overs price 55.
Fellow left-hander Ravindra, beforehand with a excessive rating of 61 in worldwide cricket, batted with flamboyance, together with one gorgeous six over Chris Woakes’ head in what turned a daily move of boundaries.
Though the group elevated all through to succeed in roughly 30,000, the match started in entrance of lower than 10,000 folks and swaths of empty seats on the big, 130,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium.
England’s efficiency isn’t the one factor that should enhance at this event.
Root finds type however others disappoint
England captain Buttler has spoken about wanting his facet to “assault” reasonably than “defend” their title however as an alternative their innings was punctuated by a sequence of timid dismissals.
Jonny Bairstow was caught lofting spinner Mitchell Santner into the fingers of long-off for 33, Buttler sparkled for 43 – together with two wonderful straight sixes – earlier than providing a skinny edge making an attempt to look Matt Henry by way of gully and Liam Livingstone tamely flicked Boult straight to long-off on 20.
Harry Brook, enjoying instead of Ben Stokes, who has a hip problem, crashed 25 off 16 earlier than being caught within the deep off an innocuous Ravindra supply.
Root, who got here into event in a uncommon droop in type after making simply 39 throughout his final 4 innings, tried to carry England collectively.
His first six got here with considered one of his trademark reverse ramps and he gathered effectively, hitting solely 4 extra boundaries, till his dismissal, bowled by Glenn Phillips when trying a reverse sweep, ended England’s hope of passing 300.
New Zealand’s bowlers had been canny.
Henry discovered motion in an excellent opening spell throughout which he nicked off Dawid Malan for a 24-ball 14, whereas Santner didn’t conceded a boundary in taking 2-37.
The Black Caps had been with out tempo bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, plus captain Kane Williamson, due to damage, however the part-time spin of Ravindra and Phillips crucially performed its half.
England transfer ahead with inquiries to reply whereas New Zealand have made the proper begin as they bid avenge consecutive defeats within the ultimate of this competitors.
‘A great distance in need of our greatest’ – response
England captain Jos Buttler: “A really disappointing day. We had been very a lot outplayed by New Zealand and it is a robust defeat to take.
“We had been a great distance in need of our greatest.
“But it surely is only one loss initially of an extended event. We have overwhelmed groups like this earlier than and we have suffered defeats like this earlier than as effectively, we can’t learn an excessive amount of into it.”
Participant of the match, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra: “It is somewhat bit unbelievable. It was nice to have an excellent day trip.
“The boys bowled and fielded rather well to limit them to 282 after which fortunate I had Devon on the market with me to indicate me the right way to do it.
England batter Joe Root, chatting with BBC Sport: “A disappointing day from quite a few features. Batting-wise, we simply could not get that important partnership like they did that might have allowed us to actually set the sport up.
“We additionally did not bowl in addition to we are able to do, which does occur if you’re beneath the place you need to be with the bat. When the situations change as effectively, all of it simply provides as much as making that gulf monumental.”
New Zealand captain Tom Latham: “A implausible efficiency. It was a superb partnership between Devon and Rachin however going again to our bowlers, they did a implausible job to set us up.
“We’re tremendous happy with Rachin, batting at three for the primary time in an ODI, and he performed superbly.”